sorry pressed the wrong key . What I meant to say was...sometimes i needed a blood test prior to chemo when i was on Taxol. I discovered I could take the blood test locally the day before. The point of that was it saved time as othewise I would take blood test wait an hour to see oncologist see her then chemo after that. Another lady worked near the hospital came in had blood test the day before and then went to work .Next day saw oncologist and then chemo It was only towards the end I did this. The blood test locally would be taken normally not using the port. From memory I think initially the first two chemo were sore but otherwise okayPS Cream was given freely by by my breat care nurses.